Crusty Flip-Flops Help Amateur Sleuth Nab Thief at Great Canadian Casino

An Accidental Image Becomes a Key Clue in Phone Recovery

A Toronto-area resident’s determination and persistence paid off when he used an unusual clue to recover his father’s stolen iPhone at a casino.

The Unlikely Clue

Jason Zhao began tracking the phone via iCloud’s “Lost Mode,” and first traced its location to a mall, where he suspects someone unsuccessfully attempted to wipe or resell it. However, moments later, an unexpected development: a new photo appeared on his father’s paired iPad.

It seemed that the thief had inadvertently taken a picture of their own feet – and pay attention, because this will matter later. The end of each foot featured a dusty-ass flip-flop that would become a crucial piece of evidence in the case.

The Trail Leads to the Casino

The phone’s signal followed a route: it jumped on a bus, flipped to the subway, and flopped to a north-end apartment building. The details in the report suggest that the venue was indeed the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. A photograph published by the local news confirmed this, showing the frontage of the casino.

The Determined Sleuth

Zhao drove approximately 22 miles to the casino with the image of those gnarly, smelly-looking flip-flops burned into his brain. Upon arrival, he started playing iCloud’s “Play Sound” feature to flush out the device, even though the casino’s noise rendered the audio faint.

When the sound didn’t help, Zhao switched tactics: he zeroed in on anyone wearing the distinctive flip-flops. Eventually, he saw someone wearing a pair that matched the photo exactly.

The Target Locked In

With the target in sight, Zhao triggered the phone’s sound again. Although it remained silent, the suspect reacted by pulling out a phone and placing it back quickly, confirming Zhao (allegedly) had his man.

Zhao approached casino security, but they claimed it wasn’t their problem since the theft hadn’t occurred on casino property. Undeterred, he trailed the suspect, dialed the non-emergency police line, and reported the situation.

A Quick Response

After 30 minutes on hold, Zhao called 911, emphasizing that the suspect had spotted him being followed, “seemed agitated, and might become aggressive.” That prompted authorities to respond. Toronto Police arrived just as the suspect was stepping out for a smoke, and Zhao flagged them down.

An officer seized the phone, along with another device, and arrested the man, who had removed the SIM card and stashed it in tissues alongside a lighter and cigarettes.

A Lesson in Persistence

Zhao laughed that the only reason they found him was thanks to that one accidental foot photo. “So thank you, busted flip-flops.”

Key Takeaways:

The power of determination and persistence in solving a crime.
The importance of using available technology, such as iCloud’s “Lost Mode,” to track a stolen device.
The role of an unexpected clue, like the photo of the flip-flops, in cracking a case.